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Movie Review: McConaughey Oscar-worthy

While the film's title might sound like the name of a club those on Bravo's "Real Housewives of Dallas" (set for a 2014 telecast start) might belong to, or a QVC telemarketing spinoff, "Dallas Buyers Club" is about a company organized to provide what was purported to be H.I.V.-positive antidotes soon after the virus was identified.

"Dallas Buyers Club," said to be based on a true story, stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, founder of the club, in what should be an Oscar actor-nominated performance.

Also look for an Oscar supporting actor nomination for Jared Leto as a cross-dressing AIDS-victim, Rayon, and an Oscar supporting actress nomination for Jennifer Garner as a Dallas medical doctor, Dr. Eve Saks.

Ron Woodroof (McConaughey), an electrician in the Texas oil fields and sometimes rodeo bull rider, is diagnosed as being H.I.V.-positive. Woodroof, depicted in the film as a stereotypical Texas good ole boy, is dismayed because he's homophobic and H.I.V. was diagnosed in the gay community in the United States.

It's the early days of AZT treatments of H.I.V-positive patients. Woodroof resists the medical program, claiming AZT is as bad as the disease itself.

Woodroof traveled to Mexico, where a former medical doctor, Dr. Vass (Griffin Dunne), has developed a "cocktail" of medicines and supplements said to be an effective H.I.V. antidote.

Since the antidotes weren't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Woodroof isn't a medical doctor, prescriptions and sales are illegal. Those who request the concoction pay a $400 to join the Dallas Buyers Club and obtain the "antidote" for free.

Woodroof, given 30 days to live, is told "to put your affairs in order" by Dr. Sevard (Denis O'Hare). The film's closing titles state that Woodroof lived for seven years after his diagnosis.

The screenplay by Melisa Wallack (screen stories for "Mirror, Mirror," 2012; "Meet Bill," 2007) and Craig Borten depicts the life of Ron Woodroof in all its seedy glory.

Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée ("The Young Victoria," 2009) uses lots of close-ups, casual camera angles and quick edits to tell the story in a fast-paced, sometimes shocking, often humorous and always intriguing style.

At the center of "Dallas Buyers Club" are three fine performances. Jennifer Garner creates empathy as a doctor who sympathizes with Woodroof's plight. Jared Leto ("Lord of War," 2005; "Fight Club," 1999) is incredible as a young transvestite who brings out the humanity in Woodroof.

Matthew McConaughey ("Mud," "Magic Mike," both 2012) is all jangly and rough edges with an angularity to his performance that makes his cowboy hat seem to be perched precariously atop his cowboy-boot gaunt frame. McConaughey is almost unrecognizable as he burrows into the role with a furtive intensity that has to be seen to be appreciated.

Effective in a supporting role as a policeman is Steve Zahn.

"Dallas Buyers Club" is a fascinating glimpse into a slice of time when the certain segments of the American population were in a near panic about H.I.V. and AIDS. While Woodroof's unorthodox and, at the time, illegal approach brought the FDA and other law-enforcement authorities down on him, aspects of his approach were apparently later adopted by the medical community, according to the film's closing credits.

"Dallas Buyers Club" might not be the kind of film that all movie-goers will want to see. However, it's worth viewing as yet another reality-based feature that merits Oscar consideration.

Credit Readers Anonymous: Although "Dallas Buyers Club" is set in Dallas, Texas, it was filmed in New Orleans, La.

Box Office, Nov. 29: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" lit up the top spot two weeks in a row, No. 1 with $74.5 million, $296.5 million, two weeks, freezing out "Frozen," with a hot $66.7 million, $93.3 million, two weeks;

Box Office, Nov. 22: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" lived up to its hype, opening at No. 1 with $158 million, best opening ever in November, sixth-biggest opening ever, third all-time for 2D-only movies, and more than the $152-million opening last March of the first in the series.

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"Inside Llewyn Davis," R: The Coen Brothers direct a fiction drama about a week in the life of a folksinger, said to be loosely based on Dave Van Ronk, the Greenwich Village folk scene in 1961. Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund and John Goodman.